<big><b>Five things to watch: Minnesota Vikings (2-7) at Seattle Seahawks (9-1)</b></big>
<small>Sunday, Nov. 17 | 1:25 p.m. PST | CenturyLink Field | TV: Fox</small>
Hot off their dominant win in Atlanta last week, the Seahawks return home Sunday to face the Minnesota Vikings. While the 9-1 Hawks are flying high in the NFC, the 2-6 Vikes are on the other end of the spectrum. They have superstar running back Adrian Peterson and a scary-good special-teams unit, but they've started three different quarterbacks already this season and their starter is nursing a shoulder injury. By all accounts, the Seahawks are expected to win handily on Sunday; Vegas bookies are favoring Seattle by 13 to 14 points.
Minnesota's defense is ranked 30th in the NFL -- mostly for giving up an average of 285.7 passing yards per game, but also for allowing 113.7 rushing yards per tilt for a ranking of 17th in the league. Seattle, meanwhile, has the NFL's most prolific running game, with Marshawn Lynch leading the way for a league-leading 153.4 team yards on the ground per game. And, while the Seahawks' passing offense is ranked just 24th, they are gaining an average of 208.6 yards through the air and their quarterback, Russell Wilson, has the fifth-best passer rating in the NFL, behind just Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers and Philip Rivers.
But of course, the big story for Seattle is the return of its injured offensive linemen and the possible debut of Percy Harvin -- against his old Vikings team, no less. That is just one of the keys to watching the Seahawks and Vikings on Sunday; click through the gallery for our five things to watch. less

But first ... <b>the last time they met:</b>
<big><em>Nov. 4, 2012 — Vikings 20, at Seahawks 30</em></big>
Going into Week 9 last season, the Seahawks were just 4-4 and coming off a heartbreaking loss in Detroit. But starting with their home game against the Vikings, the Hawks steadily began an offensive turnaround that eventually sparked Seattle's wild run at the end of the 2012 season.
On Nov. 4, 2012, at CenturyLink Field, the Vikes jumped out first with a touchdown by Adrian Peterson, but the Seahawks surged back with two first-quarter touchdown throws to Golden Tate and Sidney Rice. The game went back and forth until just before halftime, when Seattle took a 20-17 lead and never looked back, eventually winning 30-20 on the backs of the Seahawks defense. Peterson finished with a whopping 182 yards and two TDs on 17 carries, but it wasn't enough to offset a poor performance by QB Christian Ponder. For the Hawks, Russell Wilson (pictured at left) was surgical, with 173 yards and three TD throws on 16-for-24 passing, and Marshawn Lynch rushed for 124 yards and a score on 26 carries.
Minnesota's offense took a big hit when, late in the game, superstar receiver Percy Harvin went down with an ankle injury that sidelined him through the remainder of the season. Of course, the Seahawks acquired Harvin this past off-season in a blockbuster trade, sending several draft picks -- including their 2013 first-round selection -- to the Vikings. But, thanks to a separate hip injury, Harvin hasn't played since that game last season, more than a year ago. He could suit back up Sunday, but this time as a member of the Seahawks. less

But first ... <b>the last time they met:</b>
<big><em>Nov. 4, 2012 — Vikings 20, at Seahawks 30</em></big>
Going into Week 9 last season, the Seahawks were just 4-4 and coming off a heartbreaking loss ... more

Photo: Stephen Brashear / Getty Images

Image 3 of 12

<b>1. Seattle gets its starters back</b>
The Seahawks haven't had their full starting offensive line since Week 2 against the San Francisco 49ers, when left tackle Russell Okung (pictured at left) went down with a foot injury. The next game, against the Jacksonville Jaguars, right tackle Breno Giacomini (pictured center) went down with a knee injury. Since then, the Seahawks have been using their backups -- and, for quite a while, the offense struggled through weak pass protection and subpar run-blocking. While the subs have improved, and performed very well last week in Atlanta, Seahawks fans will be happy to have Okung and Giacomini back on the O-line.
Seattle also will return center Max Unger and defensive end Red Bryant, who both missed the Falcons game with concussions. Unger missed two games earlier in the season, as well, due to an arm injury. Bryant is one of Seattle's best defenders against the run, and his help will be much needed Sunday against Vikings running back Adrian Peterson. Also expected to return are fullback Derrick Coleman (hamstring), defensive tackle Jordan Hill (biceps) and backup safety Jeron Johnson (hamstring).
The Seahawks recently lost wideout Sidney Rice for the rest of the season, and cornerback Brandon Browner is out indefinitely with what head coach Pete Carroll has described as a "serious" groin injury. Defensive tackle Tony McDaniel is questionable for Sunday's game with a hamstring injury after not practicing this week. Cornerback Jeremy Lane, Seattle's best coverage player on special teams, is probable with a thigh injury. Others on the Seahawks' injury report -- including safety Kam Chancellor (hip), defensive end Chris Clemons (not injury-related), linebacker Bruce Irvin (shoulder) and cornerback Richard Sherman (hip) -- are expected to play.
Oh, and Percy Harvin .... less

<b>1. Seattle gets its starters back</b>
The Seahawks haven't had their full starting offensive line since Week 2 against the San Francisco 49ers, when left tackle Russell Okung (pictured at left) went down ... more

Photo: Elaine Thompson / Associated Press

Image 4 of 12

<b>2. Percy freakin' Harvin</b>
Just in time for the homestretch to the playoffs, the Seahawks get a dangerous new weapon on offense: Wide receiver Percy Harvin. Seattle's blockbuster off-season acquisition, the superstar wide receiver is expected to make his Seahawks debut Sunday against his former team. After a 3.5-month recovery from his hip surgery in early August, Harvin (pictured at left) says he is ready to play.
As mentioned earlier, Harvin hasn't taken the field since last season, when his Vikings were in Seattle on Nov. 4, 2012. But he was one of football's most dynamic play-makers, squarely in the discussion for NFL MVP until his season-ending ankle injury. Now he joins a Seattle offense that has mostly struggled through the first nine games of the season until breaking out last week in Atlanta, even without their No. 1 receiver, Sidney Rice. Wideouts Golden Tate, Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse have picked up the slack and are playing with flash, and now they will be playing alongside a passionate and driven receiver in Harvin.
Assuming he plays Sunday, Harvin likely won't be in for many snaps -- maybe 10 to 15 -- and he won't be returning kickoffs until the Seahawks are certain he's 100 percent healthy. But Harvin can alter a game just by lining up in formation; opponents have to adjust for his speed and immense ability to run with the ball after catching it. And the Vikings know more than any other team that Harvin can be a threat not just as a receiver, but also as a rusher in the backfield. Even if he doesn't have a huge effect on Sunday's game, he is expected to add an all-but-unstoppable element to Seattle's offense led by Russell Wilson (pictured at right) through the rest of the year. less

<b>2. Percy freakin' Harvin</b>
Just in time for the homestretch to the playoffs, the Seahawks get a dangerous new weapon on offense: Wide receiver Percy Harvin. Seattle's blockbuster off-season ... more

Photo: Ted S. Warren / Associated Press

Image 5 of 12

Image 6 of 12

<b>3. Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson</b>
The Vikings still have one football superstar in running back Adrian Peterson (pictured), widely considered to be one of the best -- if not the best -- rusher in the game. Through nine games this season, Peterson has 786 rushing yards and leads all NFL running backs with nine rushing touchdowns. He is not on the same pace he was last season, when he rushed for an NFL-best 2,097 rushing yards (just six yards short of the single-season record); his 2013 yardage ranks him fourth in the league behind Philadelphia's LeSean McCoy (932 yards), Seattle's Marshawn Lynch (871 yards) and Washington's Alfred Morris (825 yards). But no one needs to explain just how good Peterson is.
He will be the biggest test yet for Seattle's run defense, which has struggled of late. While the Seahawks successfully turned things around last week, giving up just 64 rushing yards to the Falcons after consecutive games of 200-plus yards by the Rams and Buccaneers, Seattle's run defense is still a question mark. Defensive end Red Bryant will be back, but no one is ever a sure thing; he struggled against the Bucs before his concussion, scoring low against the run and committing two penalties.
People often compare Peterson and Lynch because they're two of the most prolific backs in football, but they have very different running styles. Peterson is more of a finesse guy who sprints away once he gets into the open field. Lynch is a power back, pushing his way through the line and breaking tackles for big yardage. It ought to be fun to watch them play on the same field again Sunday. less

<b>3. Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson</b>
The Vikings still have one football superstar in running back Adrian Peterson (pictured), widely considered to be one of the best -- if not the best -- ... more

Photo: Tim Sharp / Associated Press

Image 7 of 12

<b>4. The Vikings and their quarterbacks</b>
Starting quarterback Christian Ponder (pictured at left) is probable to play Sunday despite suffering a dislocated non-throwing shoulder last week against the Redskins. But Minnesota's offense has not been able to fully jell this season. Ponder went down earlier in the season with a fractured rib and missed three games, during which Minnesota tried to plug the hole with backup Matt Cassel. After a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cassel threw two interceptions in a big loss to Carolina.
At the same time, veteran QB Josh Freeman was forced out of Tampa Bay due to poor leadership and performance. The Vikings signed Freeman and gave him a shot in Week 6, but that experiment didn't work as Freeman jumped into the deep end with an unfamiliar offense. Freeman also suffered a concussion during that game, so Ponder has taken back over despite his aching ribs. Since his return, Ponder is 1-1 with a loss at Dallas and a win at home against the Redskins. Last week versus Washington, Ponder put together one of his best pro performances before hurting his shoulder, going 17-for-21 for 174 yards passing, two touchdowns and an interception.
It's hard to know what sort of offense the Seahawks will face on Sunday. Will Ponder be on his game? Will he struggle through pain? Will Ponder, even though he's expected to start, be able to play the full 60 minutes? Seattle has been preparing this week for not just Ponder but also Freeman and Cassel. It's a lot to keep track of, but the Seahawks and their second-ranked defense ought to be tough for Minnesota to face. Watch for tight coverage by cornerbacks Richard Sherman and Walter Thurmond against the Vikings' best receivers, Jerome Simpson and Greg Jennings -- the edge goes to Seattle in "Christian Ponder versus the Legion of Boom."
(Note: Simpson is expected to play Sunday in Seattle despite being charged with two counts of drunken driving after being arrested last Saturday.) less

<b>4. The Vikings and their quarterbacks</b>
Starting quarterback Christian Ponder (pictured at left) is probable to play Sunday despite suffering a dislocated non-throwing shoulder last week against the ... more

Photo: Jamie Squire / Getty Images

Image 8 of 12

<b>5. A battle of special teams</b>
Sunday's game features a matchup of two of the NFL's best special-teams squads. Minnesota rookie wideout Cordarrelle Patterson (pictured) is leading the league with 845 kick-return yards and two return touchdowns -- including a 109-yarder (tied for the NFL record) against Green Bay on Oct. 27. The 29th-overall pick out of Tennessee in the 2013 NFL Draft, Patterson is averaging 35.2 yards per kick return for the league lead. And the Vikings' punt-returner, Marcus Sherels, has one touchdown and 196 yards on punt returns.
The Seahawks are hoping they are ready. They have one of the NFL's best kick-coverage guys in Jeremy Lane, but other players will have to step up if Lane is limited Sunday due to his thigh injury. Heath Farwell, J.R. Sweezy and Richard Sherman have also stood out on special teams.
"We have a really good kickoff-coverage unit, we have a really good punt-coverage unit, we’re extremely proud of the way our guys work, and we take a lot of pride in doing that right," head coach <a href="http://blog.seattlepi.com/football/2013/11/13/pete-carroll-on-injuries-percy-harvin-and-prep-for-the-vikings/#17969-12">Pete Carroll said Wednesday</a>. "It’s a great matchup -- it just is a great matchup -- and we’ll find out where we stack up against the best guys in the league."
Meanwhile, the Seahawks have the league's second-ranked punt returner in Golden Tate, who has 384 yards and a touchdown on punt returns, including his momentum-swinging 71-yarder as Seattle made its franchise-record comeback against the Buccaneers on Nov. 3. Jermaine Kearse generally returns kickoffs for the Seahawks, and has a modest 265 yards on 12 returns this season for an average of 22.1 yards. less

<b>5. A battle of special teams</b>
Sunday's game features a matchup of two of the NFL's best special-teams squads. Minnesota rookie wideout Cordarrelle Patterson (pictured) is leading the league with 845 ... more

Photo: Wesley Hitt / Getty Images

Image 9 of 12

<b>BONUS: Can Seattle clean up its act?</b>
While the Seahawks appeared to finally put everything together last week in Atlanta, there was still one big blemish: Penalties. Through 10 weeks, the Seahawks are the most-flagged team in the NFL with 80 penalties and have also surrendered the most yards (719) to infractions. Seattle has committed fewer than six penalties in just one game this season -- against the Jacksonville Jaguars -- and have not been able to clean up their play. Last week against the Falcons, the Seahawks were flagged nine times for losses of 80 yards.
Right guard J.R. Sweezy leads the team with five penalties, closely followed by left guard James Carpenter and center Max Unger with four each. Quarterback Russell Wilson has also committed four penalties, and four players -- receiver Golden Tate, tight end Kellen Davis, left tackle Paul McQuistan and right tackle Michael Bowie -- each have three. Clearly, the inexperienced offensive line has had some issues.
Those could clear up some this week with the return of left tackle Russell Okung and right tackle Breno Giacomini, but don't bet on it -- they led the team last year with 13 and 12 penalties apiece, respectively. The Seahawks need to clean things up before they get to the playoffs, where they would face better teams and have a much smaller margin for errors such as penalties. Watch whether Seattle can keep flags to a minimum Sunday against the Vikings. less

<b>BONUS: Can Seattle clean up its act?</b>
While the Seahawks appeared to finally put everything together last week in Atlanta, there was still one big blemish: Penalties. Through 10 weeks, the Seahawks ... more

Photo: Winslow Townson / Getty Images

Image 10 of 12

Image 11 of 12

<b>BONUS 2: Are the Seahawks poised for another big run?</b>
Last year, the Seahawks didn't get rolling until November, then plowed through their opponents in December, outscoring their final four regular-season foes 170-43. Head coach Pete Carroll's teams have historically been at their best in November and December, going back to the days of his powerhouse USC Trojans. Now, the 2013 Seahawks are returning numerous starters -- not to mention Percy Harvin -- just as they head down the stretch. And with a bye week next, Seattle will be well-rested for the big matchup Dec. 2 against the New Orleans Saints on "Monday Night Football" in Seattle.
After last week's dominating performance in Atlanta, people have started to wonder if the Seahawks will go on another roll this season. They certainly have momentum going into Sunday's game, and a big win over the Vikings would help eliminate some of the lingering concerns after their close wins in October and early November. Apart from the Saints, the 49ers are the best team on Seattle's schedule through the rest of the regular season, and four of those remaining six games will be at CenturyLink Field, where the Seahawks don't seem to lose. (The Hawks face the Niners on Dec. 8 in San Francisco.)
Watch for signs Sunday of an offense that has the ability to be near-unstoppable. Can the Seahawks go on another run down the stretch? Kickoff against Minnesota is slated for 1:25 p.m. PST Sunday and the game will be televised on Fox. less

<b>BONUS 2: Are the Seahawks poised for another big run?</b>
Last year, the Seahawks didn't get rolling until November, then plowed through their opponents in December, outscoring their final four ... more

Photo: Stephen Brashear / Getty Images

Image 12 of 12

Five things to watch: Minnesota Vikings at Seattle Seahawks

1 / 12

Back to Gallery

Photo galleries may not be properly displayed on some mobile devices. If you encounter this issue on our mobile website, please consider switching to the full version.